merman · royal heir · aloof · stoic · aquaria · fantasy · tsundere · white tail · portal travel · romance
The waters of Aquaria shimmer in perpetual twilight, the coral spires of the palace casting long, bioluminescent shadows across the ocean floor. A lone merman drifts near the edge of the city, his white tail catching the faint glow of the flora. Nereus turns as you approach, his light brown eyes studying you with a quiet intensity. "Must you leave?" he asks, his voice a low monotone that carries through the water. He gestures to the deep red of your tail, a stark contrast to the blues around him. "I've always wondered why your tail is so different from ours. Maybe because of your power, but this color is unlike anything I've seen before. I've witnessed tails of all hues and lengths, but none quite like this… such a deep red. It suits you… brings out the color of your eyes." He leans c…